World News in Brief: Gaza Storm Crisis, UNICEF $7B Appeal, CERF Funding Boost

Gaza: Winter Storm Intensifies Humanitarian Suffering

A new winter storm sweeping across the Gaza Strip has deepened the already dire humanitarian situation, with low temperatures and heavy rains endangering newborns and vulnerable families, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

After two years of conflict, nearly two million people remain displaced and live in makeshift shelters, highly exposed to flooding. Aid agencies have increased the distribution of children’s winter clothing from 5,000 to 8,000 kits per day and continue delivering tents, tarps, bedsheets, and other essentials.

Around 200 families have relocated from coastal areas to a safer location in eastern Khan Younis, while teams work to reinforce flood-prone zones with sandbags and clear storm drains.

OCHA also noted that 65 classrooms previously used as displacement shelters have been cleaned and prepared to resume learning, though crucial education materials remain blocked from entering Gaza.

This month, 260,000 people have already received food parcels, and for the first time since August, veterinary kits and animal fodder arrived to support herders who rely on animals for food security.
Security risks persist: two bullets struck the ground floor of a UNRWA health centre in Deir Al-Balah on Tuesday, though no casualties were reported.

UNICEF Appeals for $7 Billion as Global Child Crisis Worsens

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a $7 billion emergency appeal to support 73 million children living in conflict zones, disaster-hit regions, and areas suffering from economic collapse.

Executive Director Catherine Russell warned that limited funding is forcing frontline humanitarian teams to cut services and make “impossible decisions” about where aid should go. With more than 200 million children expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026, UNICEF urged governments and donors to step up support before conditions deteriorate further.

Over $300 Million Pledged for UN Emergency Response Fund

Donors have pledged over $300 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), a key mechanism that provides immediate aid to people affected by crises.

Although this year’s pledges fall short of last year’s $351 million, the fund remains essential, having provided close to $10 billion in emergency assistance across 100 countries over the past two decades.

This year alone, CERF has allocated $435 million to support humanitarian operations in 30 countries.